With their Monday night victory over the Buffalo Bills, the Patriots became the 16th team since the NFL merger of 1970 to open the season with 10 straight wins. Like the 10-0 Panthers, the Patriots’ fate remains unknown.
That being the case, it’s worth asking how the first 14 performed.
The group averaged a 14-2 regular season record. None finished with more than three losses — probably no surprise, given that a team would need to go a mere 3-3 over the duration of its schedule to reach 13 wins.
For teams that showed that sort of dominance through 10 games, success typically carried over to the playoffs. Nine of the 14 teams (64 percent) played in the Super Bowl, with six emerging as league champions (43 percent).
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One team — the 1990 49ers — lost in the NFC conference championship game to a Giants team that opened the year with a 10-0 record on the way to a Super Bowl. Just four of the 14 teams (29 percent) failed to win a single playoff game.
| Team | Year | Reg season record | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots | 2015 | TBD | TBD |
| Carolina Panthers | 2015 | TBD | TBD |
| Green Bay Packers | 2011 | 15-1 | Division Round |
| New Orleans Saints | 2009 | 13-3 | Won Super Bowl |
| Indianapolis Colts | 2009 | 14-2 | Lost Super Bowl |
| Tennessee Titans | 2008 | 13-3 | Division Round |
| New England Patriots | 2007 | 16-0 | Lost Super Bowl |
| Indianapolis Colts | 2005 | 14-2 | Division Round |
| Denver Broncos | 1998 | 14-2 | Won Super Bowl |
| Washington Redskins | 1991 | 14-2 | Won Super Bowl |
| San Francisco 49ers | 1990 | 14-2 | Conference Championship |
| New York Giants | 1990 | 13-3 | Won Super Bowl |
| Chicago Bears | 1985 | 15-1 | Won Super Bowl |
| Miami Dolphins | 1984 | 14-2 | Lost Super Bowl |
| Minnesota Vikings | 1975 | 12-2 | Division Round |
| Miami Dolphins | 1972 | 14-0 | Won Super Bowl |
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